Traded by the Clippers back when they still resided in San Diego, he was a key component of the Lakers during the high-flying Showtime Era.

He helped set the stage for the next run of championships as a teammate and mentor to young Kobe Bryant.

His continuing positive impact comes via Ramon Sessions, the blink-and-you’ll-miss-him-quick point guard acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers as the clock was ticking down on the trade deadline.

Scott, who grew up in Inglewood and was a star at Morningside High in the shadow of the Forum, the old home of the Lakers, coaches the Cavs these days.

If the 25-year-old Sessions is ready for the rarified atmosphere where the Lakers expect to play during the final five weeks of the season and in the playoffs, an assist goes to his former coach for preparing him for the task at hand.

“Coach Scott is a hard coach,” Sessions said.

That was not a complaint.

The tone of his soft voice shouted praise and appreciation for valuable lessons, for passing the torch from Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and Michael Cooper. And, of course, from Pat Riley, their hard coach.

“Coach Scott is hard-nosed,” Sessions said.

Scott was a hard-nosed player. Now he’s a hard-nosed coach who teaches hard-nosed basketball. And, yes, if you are on his team you are expected to be a hard-nosed player.

“You have to be in shape,” Sessions said.

He grinned.

“There is no other way to play the game,” he said.

You know Bryant will nod his approval.

Shortly after the Lakers acquired Sessions, they unceremoniously sent veteran guard Derek Fisher packing to the Houston Rockets.

A comment from Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro on how he will work in his new player, former USC star Nick Young, applies to Sessions and the Lakers.

“The chemistry of a team is important,” he said. “The rhythm of a team is important.”

As much as coaches talk and talk and talk some more about team above individuals, about five players tied together, they have a tendency to base decisions on raw talent.

Fisher was at the center of the chemistry and rhythm of the Lakers. Never an overpowering physical presence, he was their X factor as they went to the NBA Finals seven times and won five championships.

In sports, such accomplishments quickly become ancient history.

So it was that Fisher was on his way out the minute Mike Brown was hired as coach because he was the square peg who would not fit into the round hole that is Brown’s approach to the game.

The question is not just about the new guy on the block. What will he add to the team? Sessions is a consensus talent upgrade from the 37-year-old Fisher.

The question also is about who now becomes the rock of the franchise. Who will step into Fisher’s leadership role?

The Lakers appear more concerned with slashing salary, as they have with the departure of Lamar Odom, Luke Walton and Fisher, than anything else. This is necessary, we are told, because the new Collective Bargaining Agreement imposes massive financial penalties for venturing above the luxury tax threshold.

This is why, again we are told, the formerly financially aggressive Lakers have become the frugal Lakers.

What this ignores is the $3 billion they will receive over 20 years for their television rights.

It also ignores the fact that they have slashed staff salaries not part of luxury tax numbers.

Sessions cannot be ignored because he will play a pivotal role in the rise or fall of the Lakers.

He got an A at the press conference when he arrived.

“I’m excited to be here,” he said. “Fisher was a great guy for this organization. I’m not here to replace him. I’m here just to do whatever they need me to do and to try to win games.”

Naturally, he was asked about sharing the backcourt with Bryant.

“Kobe’s track record speaks for itself,” he said. “He’s one of the greatest players ever to play the game.”

He was enthusiastic about passing the ball into the post to Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, calling them “those two big trees.”

These days it is not unusual for a team to call a player’s agent about a trade and let him tell the player. Scott is so old school he made the phone call himself.

Same with Bryant and the rest of the Lakers. As much as they love and respect Fisher, they’ll love him if his game is good enough to help them win.

That’s the nature of sports.

Clearing out the notebook …

Job market: El Segundo High football product Steven Radicevic has left his position as Director of Football Operations at UCLA to move to the NFL as West Coast regional scout for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Opinion: Dwight Howard was ridiculed immediately after he announced he will return to Orlando for another season but will not sign a long-term contract to retain his right to become a free agent. This sounds like a young man who cannot make a decision.

Question: How long before someone starts a rumor that Phil Jackson will return to the NBA as coach of the Clippers?